Our classrooms are so small so we have to make the most of what we have got. Ewan McIntosh talks about spaces (virtual or real gathering around the fireplace) for students to meet and moveable walls. Think about making small rooms (spaces) in your classroom. Use you furniture creatively. Kids like to lie on the floor, kneel at a kneeler, sit on a step, loll on a couch or a beanbag, sit in a big comfy chair. Use cardboard trellis to create the walls that make the spaces. Children do not have to sit in any one particular area or even on the mat.
You don't need a mat area. A lot of our children (particularly the older ones) do not like sitting on the mat. If you are sharing whole class then let the children sit in their chairs. When I did this in a class I taught in last year, students knew that when it was whole class time that they would turn their chairs to me and they were allowed to move them up closer if they wanted to. (Moveable furniture would be great here). The only rule was that I had to be able to see everyone's faces when I call them for instructions. Group work can be done in a small mat area or at a large table.
Online Group Spaces
Skype (Have a class account)
iChat
Facebook (Only if the students are 13 years old and over)
Edmodo (Social Networking for students and teachers)
Group Spaces
Classroom Group Spaces
Our classrooms are so small so we have to make the most of what we have got. Ewan McIntosh talks about spaces (virtual or real gathering around the fireplace) for students to meet and moveable walls. Think about making small rooms (spaces) in your classroom. Use you furniture creatively. Kids like to lie on the floor, kneel at a kneeler, sit on a step, loll on a couch or a beanbag, sit in a big comfy chair. Use cardboard trellis to create the walls that make the spaces. Children do not have to sit in any one particular area or even on the mat.
You don't need a mat area. A lot of our children (particularly the older ones) do not like sitting on the mat. If you are sharing whole class then let the children sit in their chairs. When I did this in a class I taught in last year, students knew that when it was whole class time that they would turn their chairs to me and they were allowed to move them up closer if they wanted to. (Moveable furniture would be great here). The only rule was that I had to be able to see everyone's faces when I call them for instructions. Group work can be done in a small mat area or at a large table.
Online Group Spaces
Skype (Have a class account)
iChat
Facebook (Only if the students are 13 years old and over)
Edmodo (Social Networking for students and teachers)
Twiducate (See @dbeehre post of how he uses it)
Delicious (Have a class account)
Slideshare (Have a class account)
Google Docs
Here is a slideshow showing all the different spaces in Lynne's room